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Letter: Federal waste hits home

Federal waste hits home

Federal waste hits home

Editor: Every day we read and hear about another federal agency wasting huge sums of money. Today, this hit home.

I am in the marine ship repair business. Due to the fear of terrorist damage to the transportation industry, Congress passed laws that require my employees and I to have badges from the Transportation Security Administration. The Transportation Worker Identification Clearance badge is something I need to enter Port Authority properties. I have been trying to get my badge for eight weeks. I tried to get help from John Mica, Ron DeSantis and the transportation committee (who hung up on me). The local TSA people refuse to give me anybody’s name and number to talk to, in management.

Although congressional staff members were nice, they patronized me into going away. I can not make my living without this badge. The TSA wants $129.30 for what they say is background check. I can do a criminal background check for $9.95 online. I did get email for a person at the TSA, but he refuses to give me any information or acknowledge my requests.

Rep DeSantis’ office talked a game, but when it came down to finding out anything, they just wanted to let the congressman know there was a problem. While my business goes bankrupt and more families are put on the street, the federal employees use the IRS to force me to pay them!